Coded indicating system



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RICHARD F. EAGAN A G E N T April 5, 1966 R. F. EAGAN CODED INDIGATING SYSTEM Filed June '7, 1963 Fig.1

April 1966 R. F. EAGAN 3,245,069

CODED INDIGATING SYSTEM Filed June 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet a' F 2 INVENTOR.

R [CHAR D F. EAGAN A G E N T United States Patent 3,245,069 CODED INDICATI-NG' SYSTEM Richard F. Eagan, East Orange, N.J., ass gnor to Specialties Development Corporation, Bellevrlle, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 7, 1963, Ser. No. 286,279 1 Claim. (Ci. 340-487) The present invention relates to indicating systems, and, more particularly, to such systems in which the indication is given in a coded manner to identify the source of the signal initiating the indication.

In many indicating systems wherein an indication producing device is connected to be actuated by any of a number of signal sources, it is desirable that the indication be produced in a coded manner such that the source of the actuating signal may be readily determined. Also, in such systems, it is frequently desirable that the indicator continue to operate in the coded manner until it is manually turned olf or the condition causing the indication is corrected, so that, should the condition occur when the system is not attended, personnel subsequently arriving at the scene can readily identify the location of the condition.

For example, in fire alarm systems for large buildings, such as schools and industrial plants, it is common practice to provide throughout the building both fire alarm bells and fire alarm signal transmitting devices which are interconnected so that a signal from any of the signal transmitting devices causes all of the bells to ring. In such systems, it is advantageous that the alarm bells be sounded in a coded manner which defines the location of the device transmitting the fire alarm signal so that the area of the fire may be avoided during evacuation of the building and so that the fire fighting personnel may proceed directly to the fire. In such fire alarm systems, it is preferable that once an alarm is given the bells continue to ring in the coded manner until manually turned off, even if the fire is extinguished by automatically operating fire extinguishing apparatus, so that the site of the fire may be located and inspected.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an indicating system wherein an indicator is responsive to a plurality of signal sources and means are provided to operate the indicator in a manner defining the source of the signal initiating the. indicator.

Another object is to provide such. a system wherein the indicator is capable of operating in a coded manner for an extended period of time.

Another object is to provide such a system wherein the indicator is always operated in accordance with a complete code sequence.

A further object is to provide such a system which is simple, reliable, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a plurality of signal sources, an indicator, and indicator actuating means connected between the sources and the indicator for operating the indicator in different ways in response to signals from different sources, the actuating means including a plurality of inputs each connected to one of the sources, an output connected to the indicator, a circuit associated with each of the inputs including first and second switch means for supplying power to the output, a plurality of switch operating means each connected to a different one of the inputs for operating the first switch means associated with the input in response to a signal on the input, and coding means for operating each of the second switch means in a different manner when one of the first switch means is operated.

lice

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a wiring diagram of a coded indicating system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of a modification of the system shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings in detail, there is shown a coded fire alarm system which generally includes a plurality of electrical contacts 10 to 13, an annunciator panel 14 for responding to the closing of one of the contacts 10 to 13, alarm bells 15 and 16, and an encoding panel 17 under the control of the annunciator panel for ringing the bells 15 and 16 in a coded manner defining the contacts 10 to 13 which is closed.

The electrical contacts 10 to 13 are incorporated in separate actuating devices which are dispersed throughout the building protected by the system. These actuating devices preferably are fire detector units of the type which contain a mechanical mechanism for automatically closing the contacts in the event of a fire. Such a unit is shown in US. Patent No. 2,667,552 wherein the contacts are closed either by the motion of a heated bimetallic strip or by the motion of a diaphragm acted upon by a heated volume of gas.

The annunciator panel 14 includes a relay 19 having a coil 20 and a set of contacts 21; a plurality of annunciating relays 22 to 25 each having a coil 27 to 30 respectively, a set of signal transmitting contacts 32 to 35 respectively, and a set of latching contacts 37 to 40 respectively; a plurality of lamps 41 to 44; and a reset switch 45.

The relay coil 20 is connected in series with the reset switch 45 between a positive electrical terminal 46 and a conductor 47 connected to one side of each of the contacts 10-13. The other side of each of the contacts 10-13 is connected to a negative electrical terminal 49 through one of the annunciating relay coils 27-30 respectively. The signal transmitting contacts 32-35 of the annunciating relays are each connected respectively between the conductor 47 and a signal transmitting conductor 50-53 leading to the encoder panel 17, and the contacts 21 of the relay 19 are connected between conductors 55 and 56 which also lead to the panel 17. The latching contacts 37-40 of the annunciating relays are .each connected in series with one of the lamps 41-44 respectively across one of the contacts 10-13 respectively.

The encoder panel 17 includes a plurality of input relays 59 to 62, a coding mechanism 64, a plurality of manually operated test or fire drill switches 65 to 68, an output relay '70, and supervisory relays 71 and 72.

The input relays 59 to 62 each include a relay coil 74 to 77 respectively, a movable contact 79 to 82 respectively, an upper stationary contact 84 to 87 respectively, and a lower stationary contact 89 to 92.

The coding mechanism 64 includes a motor 94, a shaft driven by the motor 94, a plurality of coding cam discs 96 to 99 mounted on the shaft 95, a reset cam disc 100, and a plurality of coding switches 101 to 104 each under the control of one of the cam discs 96 to 99 respectively, and a reset switch 105 under the control of the cam disc 100. The switches 101-105 each include a stationary contact 107 to 111 respectively and a movable contact 114 to 118 respectively. The movable contacts 114-118 are provided with cam portions 120 to 124 respectively which ride on the outer periphery of the discs 96-100 and operate the switches 101-105 in accordance with the contour of the discs. The discs 96 to 99 are each formed with a plurality of protrusions 125 arranged in a distinct pattern so that when the shaft 95 is rotated,

the coding switches 101 to 104 are each operated in a driferent sequence.

The manually operated switches 6568 each include a first pair of contacts 127-130 respectively, and a second pair of contacts, 132-135 respectively, ganged to the first pair of contacts to be operated therewith.

The output relay 70 includes a coil 137 and two pairs of contacts 139 and 140; the supervisory relay 71 includes a coil 141 and a pair of contacts 142; and the supervisory relay 72 includes a coil 144 and a pair of contacts 145.

The conductors 50-53 are respectively connected to one end of the input relay coils 74-77, and the other ends of the coils are connected to a conductor 146 extending from the negative terminal 49. The motor 94 is connected in series with the conductor 55, the contacts 21 of the relay 19, and the conductor 56 between a positive electrical terminal 147 and a negative electrical terminal 149. The lower contacts 89-92 of the input relays are respectively connected to the movable contacts 114-117 or" the coding switches 101-104, and the contact pairs 127-130 of the manual switches are respectively connected between the movable contacts 114-117 of the coding switches and the conductor 56. The stationary contacts 107-110 of the coding switches 101-104 are each connected to a conductor 150, and the output relay coil 137 is connected between the positive terminal 147 and the conductor 150. The upper stationary contacts 84, 85, and 86 of the input relays are respectively connected to the movable contacts 80, 81, and 82 thereof. The movable contact 79 of the input relay 59 is connected to the conductor 56, and the relay coil 141 of the supervisory relay 71 is connected between the upper stationary contact 87 of the input relay 62 and the positive terminal 147. A conductor 151 is connected in series with the reset switch 105 between the conductor 55 and the negative terminal 149, and the contact pairs 132-135 of the manual switches 65-68 are connected between the conductors 151 and 56.

The relay coil 144 of the supervisory relay 72 is connected in series with the bells 15 and 16 between a pair of alternating current terminals 152 and 154. The output relay contacts 139 are connected between the terminal 152 and the conductor connecting the bells 15 and 16, and the output relay contacts 140 are connected between the terminal 154 and the conductor joining the bell-16 and the coil 144. The relay cont-acts 142 of the supervisory relay 71 are connected in series with a lamp 155 and a battery 156, and the relay contacts 145 of the supervisory relay 72 are connected in parallel with the contacts 142.

In operation, when there is no fire in the building to be protected, the system is in the condition shown with the contacts -13 open and all of the annunciating relays 22-25 and the input relays 59-62 deenergized. In this condition, current flows from the positive terminal 147 through the supervisory relay coil 141, the contacts 87, 82, 86, 81, 85, 80, 84, 79 of the input relays, and the conductor 56 to the negative terminal 149. The supervisory relay coil 141 is thus energized and the contacts 142 are held open. Current also flows between the terminals 152 and 154 through the supervisory relay coil 144 and the bells and 16. This current flow is insufficient to ring the bells 15 and 16 but energizes the relay coil 144 to hold the contacts 145 open. It will be seen that it there is a failure in the bells 15 or 16, or in the alternating current source connected to the terminals 152 and 154, the relay coil 144 will be deenergized and the contacts 145 will close to light the lamp 155. It will also be seen that if there is a failure in the direct current source connected to the terminals 147 and 149, or in the conductors or the relay contacts forming the current path through the relay coil 141, the contacts 142 will close to light the lamp 155.

Should a fire occur in the vicinity of one of the contacts 10-13, that pair of contacts is closed (either automatically, or manually by a person observing the fire) and the operation of the relay 19 and the annunciator relay 22-25 connected to the closed pair of contacts is effected. The operation of the annunciator relay 22-25 causes the input relay 59-62 connected thereto to operate and connect the coding switch 101-104 associated therewith in series with the coil 137 of the output relay across the terminals 147 and 149. The operation of the relay 19 energizes the motor 94 to drive the cam discs 96 to 99 which operate the coding switches 101-104 according to the location of the protrusions 1-25 thereon. Accordingly, the bells 15 and 16 are sounded in accordance with the code defined by the protrusions 125 on that cam disc which operates the switch 101-104 connected in series with the output relay coil 137 by the operation of the energized input relay.

For example, if the pair of contacts 13 are closed, current flows from the positive terminal 46 through the coil 20 of the relay 19, the conductor 47, the contacts 13, and the annunciator relay coil 30 to the negative terminal 49. In response to this current flow, the relay coil 20 closes the contacts 21 energizing the motor 94, and the relay coil 30 closes the contacts 40 and 35 to light the lamp 44 and to permit current to fiow from the conductor 47 through the input relay coil 77 and the conductor 146 to the terminal 49. The input relay coil 77 then causes the movable contact 82 to engage the lower stationary contact 92 to connect the movable contact 117 of the coding switch 104 to the negative terminal 149 through the conductor 56 and the contacts 79, 84, 80, 85, 81, 86, 82, and 92 of the input relays. The motor 94 drives the shaft 95 and rotates the cam discs 96-100. Each time a protrusion 125 on the cam disc 99 passes under the cam follower portion 123 of the movable contact 117, the switch 104 closes and current flows through the output relay coil 137, closing the output relay contacts 139 and 140 to ring the bells '15 and 16. The bells therefore ring intermittently in accordance with the spacing of the protrusions 125 on the cam disc 99 to sound out the code associated with the contacts 13.

It Will he seen that in this embodiment the bells will continue to ring in the coded manner, until the contacts 13 are reopened and the reset switch 45 is operated to deenergize the annunciating relay 25.

The protrusions 12.5 are arranged on the cam discs 96 to 99 so that when the discs are in the position shown in the drawing, each of the coding switch cam followers 120-123 engage their respective discs in front of the protrusion 125 which defines the beginning of the code sequence. When the motor 94 is energized in response to the closing of one of the contacts 10-13, the rotation of the cam disc closes the reset switch to short circuit the contacts 21. The motor 94, therefore, cannot be stopped in response to the opening of the contacts 21 of the relay 19 in any posit-ion other than that shown in the drawing. This arrangement insures that whenever one of the contacts 10-13 is closed, the cam discs are positioned as shown in FIG. 1 so that the bells will sound out the complete code sequence, from the beginning of the sequence, to prevent any confusion.

As shown in FIG. 1, the protrusions on the discs 96 to 99 are arranged to ring the bells in the following coded manner:

Disc: Code sequence 96 2 rings, pause, one ring 97 2 rings, pause, two rings 98 3 rings, pause, one ring 99 3 rings, pause, two rings If fires should occur in the vicinity of two or more contacts 10-13 at the same time, all of those input relays 59-62 which are associated with the closed contacts would operate but the bells will sound out only one code. For example, if contacts 10 and 13 should both close, the input relays 59 and 62 would operate, however, the operation of the input relay 59 moves the contact 79 away from the contact 84 and thereby breaks the connection -relay 62.

erated, the-system will respond tothe closed contacts 13 and the bells will sound out the code associated therewith. In this manner'the system is prevented from sounding out two codes simultaneously which would cause the bells to ring in an unintelligible manner.

If it is desired'to operate the system manually, for example, to conduct a fire drill, the operation of any 'of the contacts -13 may be simulated by closing the corresponding manual switch 65-68. When one of the manual switches 65-68 is closed, the lower contacts 132-135 thereof connect the motor 94 across the terminals 147, 149, and the upper contacts 127-130 thereof connect the associated coding switch 101-104 in series with the output relay coil 137 across the terminals 147,149. The motor 94 is thereby energized to drive the cam discs 96-99 and the output relay 70 is operated to ring the bells 15, 16 in the proper coded sequence.

While this embodiment has been described as a fire indicating system, it is to 'be understood that this system could be used to give an indication in response to numerous other conditions.

In FIG. 2 a modification of the system of FIG. 1 is shown, which responds to a received signal and gives a coded indication for a period of time substantially coextensive with the duration of the signal.

In this system the encoding panel 17 is under the control of a panel 160 which includes a plurality of nonlatching control relays 161 to 164 and a plurality of manually operated switches 166 to 169 for controlling the operation of the input relays 59 to 62. The control relays 161 to 164 each include a coil 171 to 174 respectively and a pair of contacts 176 to 179 respectively. The control relay coils 171 to 174 are each connected to separate signal sources (not shown) and the contact pairs 176 to 179 are each connected in series with one of the coils 74 to 77 respectively of the input relays 59-62 between a conductor 181 and a second conductor 182. The conductor 181 is connected to the terminal 147 and the conductor 182 is connected to the terminal 149 through the reset switch 105. The manual switches 166 to 169 are connected in parallel with the contact pairs 176 t 179 respectively.

In the encoding panel 17 of this modified system, the input relays 59-62 are each provided with a pair of motor energizing contacts 184 to 187 respectively and a pair of latching contacts 189 to 192 respectively; a recycle carn disc 194 is provided on the shaft 95; a recycle switch 195 is positioned to be operated by the cam disc 194; and the supervisory relays 71 and 72 are each provided with a movable contact 196 and 197 respectively, an upper stationary contact 199 and 200 respectively, and a lower stationary contact 201 and 202 respectively. The motor energizing contacts 184-187 of the input relays are connected in parallel between a conductor 204 leading to one side of the motor 94 and a conductor 205 leading to the negative terminal 149, and the recycle switch 195 is connected between the conductors 204 and 205. The latching contacts 189 to 192 of the input relays are connected in parallel with the control relay contacts 176 to 17 9 respectively and with the manual switches 166 to 169 respectively.

The upper stationary contacts 199 and 200 of the supervisory relays 71 and 72 are connected through a lamp 206 to the terminal 149, the movable contact 197 of the relay 72 is connected to the terminal 147, the movable contact 196 of the relay 71 is connected to the lower stationary contact 202 of the relay 72, and the lower stationary '6 contact 201 of the relay 71 is connected through :alamp -207 to the terminal 149.

For purposes of simplicity, .only'the contact pair 139 of the output relay 70 and bell 15 .are shown connected to the AC. terminals 152 and 154 although it is to be understood that a greater number of contacts and bells could be provided if desired.

In operation, when there is no current flowing in the control relay coils 171 to 174 the system is in the condition shown and current flows through the coils 141 .and 144 of the supervisory relays 71 and 72 in .the same manner described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1. Current then flows from the terminal 147,

through the contacts 197,202, 196 and 201 of thelsupervisory relays, and the lamp 207'to the terminal 149.

It will be seen that failure of the alternating current source connected to terminals 152 and 154 will cause the supervisory relay coil 144 to be deenergizcd and the :contact 197 will moveto engage the contact 200 to extinguish the lamp 207 and light the lamp 206. It will also be seen tha'ta failure in the relay contacts forming the current path through the supervisory relay coil .141 will cause the relay 71 to operate and extinguish the lamp 207 and light the lamp 206. A failure of the direct current source connected to the terminals 147 and 149 would cause the lamp 207 to be extinguished.

Should a signal be impressed upon one of the control relay coils 171 to 174, the associated contact pair 176 to 179 is closed and the input relay 59-62 connected thereto is operated to connect the proper coding switch 101-104 in series with the coil 137 of the output relay 70 across the terminals 147 and 149. In this embodiment, the operation of the input relay 59-62 also energizes the motor 94 through the relay contacts 184-187, and the relay 59-62 is latched in the energized position by the operation of the latching contacts 189-192.

When the motor 94 begins to run, the cam disc 194 allows the recycle switch 195 to close to provide a second path for the current flowing through the motor 94. As the motor 94 rotates the cam discs 96-99, the protrusions 125 operate the coding switches 101 to 104 and the bell 15 rings in acordance with the code defined by those protrusions. on the cam disc operating that coding switch 101-104 which has been connected in series with the output relay coil 137.

After the shaft has made one complete revolution, the reset switch is opened by the reset cam disc 1% to interrupt the current flowing through the coil 74-77 of the energized relay 59-62. During the time that the reset switch 105 is open, the recycle switch is closed to maintain the motor 94 energized. The reset switch 105 then closes and the recycle switch 195 opens. If the signal which energized the control relay 161-164 has disappeared, all of the input relays 5-9-62 will remain deenergized and the motor 94 will stop when the recycle switch 195 opens. If the signal which energized the control relay 161-164 is still present, the associated input relay 59-62 will be reenergized and the cycle will be repeated.

The cam discs 96 to 99 are returned to the position shown in FIG. 2 at the end of each cycle of operation so that a complete code sequence is always sounded by the bell 15 when the system is activated.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, reliable and inexpensive indicating system which operates an indicator in a manner accurately defining the source of the initiating signal over an extended period of time.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

In a coded indicating system, the combination of a plurality of signal sources; indicator means; a source of electrical power; and indicator actuating means connected between said signal sources and said indicator means for operating said indicator means in different ways in response to signals from different sources, said indicator actuating means including a plurality of inputs each connected to one of said sources, an output, a circuit associated with each of said inputs and including first and second switch means for supplying power to said indicator means, a plurality of switch operating means each connected to a different one of said inputs for operating said first switch means associated with the input in response to a signal on the input, and coding means for operating each of said second switch means in a diiferent manner when one of said first switch means is operated, said first switch means, said indicator being connected between said output and one side of said power source, each of said second switch means being connected to said output, and each of said first switch means including a first stationary contact, a second stationary contact, and a movable contact under the control of one of said switch operating means, said movable contact being adapted to engage said first stationary contact when said switch operating means is deenergized and to engage said second stationary contact when said switch operating means is energized, each of said second stationary contacts being connected to one of of said second switch means, one of said movable con- .tacts being connected to the other side of said power source, and each of said first stationary contacts being connected to the moveable contact of another first switch means in a manner to provide a series circuit through all of said first stationary contacts and said moveable contacts when all of said switch operating means are deenergized, whereby each of said movable contacts is connected to said other side of said power source and operation of any of said first switch means connects said second switch means associated therewith to said other side of said power source and simultaneously breaks said series circuit to diconnect all other first switch means connected thereto through said first stationary contact thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,364 7/ 1919 Miller.

1,439,761 12/ 1922 Rohland.

1,846,218 2/1932 Lomax 340287 2,263,877 11/1941 Jackson 340287 2,328,556 9/1943 Jackson 340287 NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner. 

